So who's in the mood for a little story?

This one begins a few months ago amidst my time-killing internet browsing. My life had reached a state of veritable boredom and the days were beginning to blur together into a murky soup. Going through the list of my bookmarked sites, searching for news of an update to give meaning and excitement to my otherwise lacking existence, I notice that I had received a message on none other than deviantArt.

Further investigation into the message reveals I have no idea who this person is, nor have I met them before. Intrigued, I read what they have left to me in my inbox. I learn that they, like me once upon a time, are an art student; and like me they were given an assignment to reproduce a Group of Seven painting. Unlike me however, they became entangled in a mess, betrayed by google image search.

In choosing a suitable piece to reproduce, it seems they were led astray and managed to come across my own painting. Number Three specifically, the one to the left if you're on my main profile page at the time of writing, is the piece they found. Confidant in their selection and unaware of their error, they began to work away. It was only until later, half way through their own piece, that an inquisitive peer brought up the original painting. Retracing their internet steps, our art student relocated Number Three, and continued to follow the trail to its source.

It was here where they discovered the true nature of the piece. Not in fact a marvelled Group of Seven classic, but instead the very reflection of what they themselves had created- a reproduction by an art student.

Taking a moment to sit back and ponder what I had read, I felt an odd blend of empathy and joy begin to bubble within, (though not in the sadistic manner that it may sound like). While I was sorry to hear that a student had made a critical error in their assignment, I was also thrilled that someone had enjoyed my piece so much as to attempt its reproduction; delighted that the same ritual of examination, contemplation, and realization that I had bestowed upon the Group of Seven, was in turn bestowed to me. Misconceptions aside, my work touched someone more so than any other true Group of Seven, and that is pretty special to me.

I later learned that thanks to a merciful art teacher, and I imagine a very long winded explanation, our art student was allowed to proceed with their piece without any adverse affects to their grade. Seeing as this was something of a growing experience for us both, I have decided to declare this a happy ending.

Thank you, Swooping Puma

You may now go about your day.